Strange little friends

Since the guinea fowl suddenly turned up on my doorstep just over a month ago I seem to have attracted another type of bird. I’m sure they are some kind of finch, but I can’t identify their variety (and there are hundreds of them).

The males appear to have a salmon coloured breast. They’re very cute little things and love to sit outside the Writer’s Nook and watch me write (oh yes, it can be a little off-putting at times because I want to photograph them!).

Maybe they’ve arrived en masse to protest because I’m writing a story about a cat (which I was inspired to do by some of you after I posted the photo of the cat moon. Thank you!)

Here’s another finch, You can’t see it’s colours, but I loved the fact that it was sitting on the sugar cane flower just before sunset. Now that’s what I call relaxation!

The finches I’m used to seeing are the crimson ones (like the one I took last year of ‘Elvis’ below).

Also, the Bee Eaters are back and I managed to capture this one gazing thoughtfully across the freshly cut sugar cane.

I don’t have a name for my ‘cat’ novel yet, but I can tell you one thing – I’m really enjoying writing it!

Cats are a great subject matter for novels, in my opinion. I can’t wait to hear more about it! Those birds are delightful. Finches are some of my favorite birds–we get goldfinches, purple finches (which is our state bird), and house finches. I would love to see that finch with the orangey-pinky breast in my yard–he’s a beaut!

Dianne being the nerdy birder that I am, I looked them up and I think they are the Chestnut-breasted Mannikin finch they do love canefields and swampy environments. Must be awesome to watch them they stick together in a flock. I had the pleasure of seeing their brightly coloured cousins The Gouldian finch at the local bird aviary on the weekend. Thanks for sharing your visitors simply beautiful. Can’t wait to hear more about your cat book.

The cat novel sounds fun- 😉
And th salmon colored breasted male bird was my fav of the post – even though each bird was nice – and how fun that birds come near you and like you – that says much about the essence of the author – oh yes!

And my quick bird story for the summer was an unusual one that was squalling at me pretty good one day early July!
Annoying –
And even tho I was back to appreciating the birds and the trees we planted in 2008 that became a nesting zone – and after some aggravation with them taking over my small rock water fountain – (um, mess mess mess) – we cleaned things up – gave away the fountain and let the birds have the back space – last year it was actually delightful again to hear them as spring moved in – and all summer (2015) it was nice set up back there. Ahhhh
So few weeks ago – sitting at m journaling station – not quite the nook in your paradise – ha! But comfy and has some green grass all around –
So this squawking bird – loud and scratch my squawk – is rudely tacking at me –
A few days in a row – morning noon and night –
I finally realized he obviously juts has some best nearby – and it led to a nice couple journal entries
– you know / about protecting things we love –
About being diligent and mindful of what we have been entrusted to care for!

Ahhhh
Then days last – few major heat waves came and went – by end of month – I only heard this squawking bird in the far back fence area – I assumed the fledglings were there – and well I smiled to hear this bird still on duty and was glad I did not use a bb- gun that first and second day when he was on my last nerve (kidding on that – I would never do it and we tossed all bbguns )
But it was also a small lesson for me on how we share our world with birds – bugs – and bees ((and bloggers – you know – virtually – ha!))
Anyhow – enjoyed your bird photos very much today – xxoo

Writing a story and enjoying it – THE BEST NEWS EVER! Writing is hard, writing is part of us, can’t be stopped. But writing a story and enjoying the process? Priceless. ❤
I'm envious of your birds. The photos are beautiful. Yes, they're carefully what you're writing about…"the cat." 🙂

How lovely your little bird paradise is! Protesting you writing about a cat–ha! Thanks, as always, for the fun pictures. Glad the guinea fowl are settling in well. And happy that you’re enjoying your cat story. I love cats. Would love to read it!

During our travels we have seen bee eaters… thanks to you I know what they are, finches with binocular adorned twitchers seeking them here, seeking them there… And at Crab Claw Island a whole posse of guinea fowl… noisy, comical, hanging out with a peacock and trio of hens, quite at home amongst, people, cars, boats and caravans.
A story about a cat… you know I’ll be wanting to read that 🐱

Sign me up for a cat novel!!! You are so blessed to have these adorable little birds traveling to visit you! I love finches (I know, I love a lot of types of birds haha) and these are very unique to me. Did you search online for their name?

One of my followers (Kath from Minuscule Moments) did the searching for me and came up with the name “Chestnut-breasted Mannikin finch” – I was SO happy when I found out what they really are 😀 I love this blogging life! Too bad I’ve been so busy lately and haven’t had much time to do it. But the cat novel is coming along very well 🙂

Dianne, these pictures are beyond gorgeous, and I have to say they are some of your best. One of the Little Women of Worsham Street could take amazing pictures of birds, so I gave it a real try when I lived in Texas. But to no avail. I could never capture them like she did, but I have a real appreciation for anyone who can make them come alive.
These are truly awesome – my friend made cards out of her pictures and sold them in her antique booth (and to me!). Hint, hint.

What a great idea to make cards out of them, Sheila – I might just do that!
It’s great to see you here, I’ve been so busy lately (I’m going through all my novels so I can publish them on Create Space – what a job!) and my son and his partner are here to visit. These are lovely times 😀